Jeff Lytle column

The outlook was bleak for Collier County Judge Eugene Turner a month ago.

He was outpolled by former court magistrate Jim McGarity and Samuel Lopez, a lawyer from Pembroke Pines on the east coast, nowhere near Collier County, for re-election.

With the odds against him or any other runner-up candidate moving on to win in the general election, it looked like his career on the bench since 1983 was nearing a forced ending — three years before the retirement that he and a legion of supporters believed he had earned.

But what a difference the past weeks have made.

Momentum now is more in his favor, due to two things:

* His handling of a "Naples Daily NewsMakers'' TV interview last Sunday morning. With ex-military man McGarity refusing to appear with him and make pointed political charges to his face, Turner calmly, cooly and self-assuredly said he is better qualified and ready to serve.

Turner embraced McGarity's hardest punch — a McGarity mailer showing a two-scoop ice cream cone. It accused Turner of double-dipping — collecting a pension while also getting a salary for ongoing work. "It's a sweet deal for Turner — not for taxpayers,'' the mailer declared.

Turner responded by saying he has earned that pension from past service as a judge as well as — now hear this — a public schools teacher, prosector and Collier County School Board member.

Those roots in the community mean something and are hard to match.

He went on to say that the pension-work program is legal, used by many other public employees, and he went through all the right channels, including the governor's office, to do it properly.

He said he is not being paid twice for the same work.

He then questioned McGarity for taking issue, saying that as a judge McGarity would not be permitted to pick and choose which laws he likes when instructing juries.

Point well made. He hit it out of the park.

* The statewide law firm known as The Ticket Clinic, which in August backed Samuel Lopez against Turner and Stephen Smith of West Palm Beach against Collier County Judge Mike Carr, who won outright, says it will now side with McGarity.

A Ticket Clinic lawyer makes that disclosure in one of the firm's motions since the August primary seeking to have Turner disqualified from its cases for fear of payback from Turner for backing Lopez first.

The filing goes on to say that The Ticket Clinic plans to re-air double-dipping TV ads against Turner in advance of Nov. 6.

McGarity, in an email, says he knows nothing about any of this: "No idea what those guys will do or not do. They are not nor have they ever been a part of my campaign.''

When asked whether he will keep up his own double-dipping attack, McGarity replies: "No comment on my campaign strategy or tactics.''

Collier voters have already spoken once about what they think of political support from a firm that advertises "Don't Pay That Ticket!''"Money Back Guarantee'' and "No Points, No School, No Costs.''

Now they will get to speak again.

* * *

Stunning yet true: Firefighters' salaries and pensions consume half of the entire annual $16 million property tax intake of the city of Naples.

Still, as the city scrambles to make ends meet, the firefighters union digs in, refusing to compromise as the police union has done, working with the city to save $100 million over 30 years.

The firefighters have even pulled out of voluntary cross-training with Collier County ambulances.

Failing an epiphany or other meeting of the minds, there is a tool — some might call the weapon — for a conservative, budget-minded citizenry.

That would be a referendum sponsored by an issues-oriented political action committee already on the books, Naples Citizens for Quality Government.

If need be, that PAC, led by Dolph vonArx, a retired executive and activist/philanthropist, could be rushed by mail or wait until the polls in 2014.

Just FYI.* * *

Close readers of "help wanted'' and other classified ads may have noticed the one for R & R Harvesting Inc. in LaBelle last Sunday. It said the firm is seeking 81 temporary workers next spring.

The job description was rocket-science specific:

* "Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit, or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Remove fruit from the tree and place into pick sack."

* "Duties also include cleaning, loading and unloading harvested products, grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel and quality to ensure correct processing and usage. Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel. Perform prolonged bending, reaching and lifting up to 60 lbs.''

At least the applicants, who must have documentation, will be well informed.

Joe Paterno of Naples, who runs Southwest Florida Works for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, employers pay for the ads and the office does the rest as a public service for employers.